Taking Belts Up a Notch

Men are buckling up this fall -- and paying more for their belts. After stagnant sales during the casual-Friday era, prices of belts have been creeping as men start dressing up more.

Sales of men's belts rose to $800 million in 2004 from $765 million in 2003. Today, the average unit retail price for a belt at a department store is $21.99, compared with $17.99 three years ago, while the average price for a designer belt at a specialty...